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Chapter 9: Queen Clarice and Princess Alice
The carriage came to a gentle stop in front of the royal palace, and Aria, Ryan, and their mother, Alena, stepped out. The towering stone walls of the palace loomed above them, a symbol of power and prestige. Aria couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement and nervousness. They were here to meet Queen Clarice, but more importantly, they would be spending time with Princess Alice.
Aria had heard the rumors about Alice—the princess who struggled with her magic, the one who had grown distant. She was curious but also a little apprehensive. Ryan, on the other hand, seemed as relax and calm as ever . His blue eyes were taking in everything, showing no sign of nervousness. Their mother, Alena, smiled warmly at them as she followed the palace attendants who came to greet them.
"Remember to be respectful, but relax. Queen Clarice is an old friend, and she's eager to meet you," Alena said softly.
Aria nodded, trying to calm her racing heart. She had always been good with people, but meeting a princess felt different. There was something about royalty that added pressure, even if Alice was just another girl her age.
They followed the attendants through the palace, walking down long corridors with high ceilings and marble floors. Large tapestries hung on the walls, depicting scenes from the kingdom's history, and chandeliers cast a warm light over everything. The elegance was overwhelming, but Aria reminded herself of her mother's words—relax, be yourself.
Eventually, they reached a set of large double doors that opened into a bright sitting room. Queen Clarice stood by the window, her regal presence undeniable, but her smile was kind. She wore a deep blue gown that shimmered slightly in the sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Alena," Queen Clarice greeted warmly, "it's been far too long."
Alena bowed her head slightly. "It's good to see you, Your Majesty. Thank you for inviting us."
Queen Clarice's gaze shifted to Aria and Ryan, her smile widening. "And these must be your children. Aria and Ryan, yes?"
Aria stepped forward, curtsying politely. "Yes, Your Majesty. It's an honor to meet you."
Ryan followed with a respectful bow. "Thank you for having us."
The queen looked at them with approval. "You've raised them well, Alena. I can already see their poise."
Aria felt some of her nervousness melt away. Queen Clarice's demeanor was welcoming, not intimidating. But her mind quickly shifted to the reason they were really here—Princess Alice. What would she be like?
"Alice is in the garden," Queen Clarice said, as if reading Aria's thoughts. "She prefers the quiet there. I think you'll enjoy spending time together."
Alena nodded, and they followed the queen out of the sitting room and through a set of glass doors that led to the palace gardens. The garden was breathtaking—flowering bushes, manicured hedges, and the gentle sound of a fountain trickling in the distance. The air was fragrant with roses, and birds flitted through the trees.
Sitting on a stone bench near the fountain was Princess Alice. Her light golden hair was tied loosely back, and she wore a simple lavender gown. She looked up as they approached, her expression unreadable, her gray eyes cool and distant.
"Alice," Queen Clarice said gently.
Alice stood, her posture rigid. "Hello," she said, her voice soft but lacking warmth. "I'm Alice."
Aria stepped forward, smiling brightly. "I'm Aria, and this is my brother, Ryan. We've been looking forward to meeting you."
Ryan politely nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you, princess."
Alice looked between them, her expression unchanged. "Thank you for coming," she said flatly. "I don't often have visitors."
The air between them felt heavy, and Aria could sense that Alice wasn't interested in the meeting. She seemed withdrawn, as if going through the motions. Still, Aria wasn't ready to give up. Maybe the princess just needed time.
"The garden is beautiful," Aria said, glancing around at the vibrant flowers. "Do you spend a lot of time here?"
Alice's gaze drifted to the flowers, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Yes. It's quiet here. Better than being inside the palace."
There was something in the way she said it—detached, almost weary. Aria wondered if Alice felt trapped in her own life, unable to escape the pressures of being royalty. She hesitated, unsure how to break the tension, but she didn't want the conversation to stall.
"Do you have a favorite flower?" Aria asked, trying to keep the conversation light. "I've always liked roses. My mother has a small rose garden back home, but nothing as grand as this."
Alice's lips curved slightly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "Roses are fine," she said simply. "But I prefer the quiet more than the flowers themselves."
Ryan, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke up. "It seems like you really love this place."
Alice glanced at him, her gray eyes meeting his for a moment. "Yes," she said quietly.
"Would you like to show us around the garden?" Ryan asked.
Alice paused for a moment, as if considering the offer. "I suppose I could," she said, though her tone was still reserved.
The three of them began to walk through the garden, following the winding paths that led past rows of flowers and towering hedges. As they walked, Aria tried to make small talk, pointing out different plants and asking questions about the garden. But Alice's responses remained short, polite but distant, as if she were keeping herself closed off.
Ryan stayed mostly quiet, occasionally nodding in response to something Alice said, but he seemed to sense, as Aria did, that pushing Alice too much wouldn't help.
Eventually, they reached a secluded corner of the garden, where a small bench sat beneath a large tree. Alice sat down, folding her hands in her lap, her gaze fixed on the ground. Aria hesitated for a moment before sitting beside her, while Ryan leaned against the tree.
"Though it might be a bit late to say, Princess Alice is really beautiful. My sister and I were speechless for a moment when we saw you," Ryan said, his usual calm tone suddenly changing .
"Ryan!" Aria gasped. "You're going to make her uncomfortable."
"But it's true," Ryan replied, grinning. "Your mouth was wide open when you first saw the princess."
"You brat!" Aria stood up and began pinching Ryan's cheeks, too angry to think about the princess's reaction.
"Ahh, don't pinch my cheeks!"
"You little brat, how dare you mock your big sis"
A soft laugh echoed through the garden, startling them both.
They turned to see Princess Alice, her hand covering her mouth as she tried to stifle her laughter.
Aria punched Ryan one more time before quickly getting up and regaining her composure.
Ryan got up and smiled . "It's nice to see you smile, Princess. It must be hard, always feeling like you have to live up to other's expectations."
Alice didn't respond immediately, but ryan noticed the flicker of something in her eyes. After a long pause, Alice spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't know what it's like."
Aria exchanged a glance with Ryan before turning back to Alice. "Maybe not exactly," she admitted. "But we understand what it's like to have people expect a lot from you. To feel like you have to be perfect all the time."
Alice's hands tightened slightly in her lap, but she said nothing. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"We're not here to judge you, Princess," Ryan said gently. "We just want to become friends with you ."
For a moment, it seemed like Alice might say something more, but she only sighed softly and looked away. "I don't need friends," she said quietly. "I'm fine on my own."
Neither Ryan nor Aria pushed any further. They both sat quietly, satisfied with the small progress they'd made. Sometimes, being there was enough.
As the afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows over the garden, the three of them shared a quiet understanding. Alice might be distant now, but at least they had seen her smile. All they needed was time.
For now, they sat in peaceful silence, the garden offering a gentle refuge for them all.
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